Automatic funnel.



-J. M. EVANS. AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.6,1910.

Ptented June 13, 1911.

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J M'W/w q/vi/tmeoow i J. M. EVANS.

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.6. 1910.

Patented June13,-1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE M. EVANS, F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

auroivm'rrc FUNNEL.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Application filed October 6, 1910. Serial No. 585,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Funnels, of which the following is a specification.-

The invention relates to funnels, and more particularly to the class of self-closing or automatically controlled funnels.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a funnel in which liquid when poured into a bottle through the funnel, after reaching a predetermined level in the said bottle will effect the closing of the funnel, thereby shutting off the supply therethrou h, thus obviating any possibility of an oversow from the bottle or the filling thereof beyond a predetermined amount re quired to fill the said bottle.

Another object of the invention is the provison of a funnel in which the spout thereof is controlled by a stopper which is normally "closed, but is capable of being lifted to permit the liquid contained in the funnel to fiow into a bottle or other receptacle'to be filled therewith, the supply of liquid being automatically shut off on the filling of the bottle, so that there will be absolutely no dan er of an overflow from the bottle neck durln the filling operation.

A girther object of the invention is the provision of a funnel in which the spout thereof may be readily detached so that the funnel body and the spout may be readily cleaned when required for sanitary purposes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a funnel which is sim le of construct-ion, durable, thoroughly e cient and reliable in operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: F i ;ure 1 1s a side view of a' funnel cons'trycte in accordance with the invention. ;=;7Fi 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof, showing the same mounted in a bottle neck. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Figgt is a transverse sectional view onfthe line of Fig. 1. Fig.

5 is a further transverse sectional view "on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates the bowl-shaped body of a funnel, preferably constructed frommetal and is formed at its upper edge with a laterally curled bead forming a flange 6, whereby the body of said funnel will be materially strengthened, and detachably connected with the said flange 6.is a clamping ring or annulus 7, the latter being provided with hinged catches 8, at diametrically opposite points thereof to engage with the flange 6 for the fastening of the clamping ring 7 on the body 5 of the funnel. This clam ing ring 7 is adapted to secure a fabric mes or cloth strainer 9 in a stretched or taut condition entirely across the mouth of the funnel body, whereby liquid poured into the.

tirelydispensed with if desirable. That is to say, the strainer 9 may be employed when it is desired to strain the liquld when delivered into the body of the funnel, and should the liquid not require straining, the said cloth strainer 9 may be removed from the body .of the funnel. The opposite contracted end of the funnel body 5 is provided with a threaded neck 10 with which is detachably engaged the inner threaded end of a tapering pouring spout 11 through which liquid from the body 5 of the funnel is discharged into the body of a bottle or other receptacle.

Within the body 5 of the funnel and rising from its contracted end is a c lindrical hood or dome 12, the side wall 0 which is provided with spaced orifices or vents 13 which permit the liquid held within the body 5 to pass within the dome or hood, the latter being braced by spider arms 14 connected with the side wall thereof, and also the side wall of the body of the funnel. This hood or dome has depending from its bottom an outwardly tapering sto per receiving circular-shaped neck-15, t e latter extendin into the neck 10 of the body 5 of the funne and spaced therefrom, the neck 15 permitting the liquid to flow from the hood -or dome 10 into the spout 11.

Within the spout 11 is secured a central hollow guide tube'16 formed at one end with g for disengagement from the stem 19, thereby an outwardly flared base flange l7, thellatter being suitably secured to the wall' of the spout 11, while its opposite end extends -upwardly through the neck 15 into-the dome or hood 12 and terminates spaced from its top. The spout 11 contiguous the base flange 17 is provided with a series of discharge openings or vents 18 so that the liquid contained in the inner portion of the spout .11 may bedischarged into the body of a bottle, the base flange 17 being spaced a considerable distance fromv the outer or free end of the spout 11.

Telescoping upon and slidable on the said guide tube 16 is a hollow stem or tube 19,

the same carrying a stopper 20 providedwith a resilient tapered end portion 21, the latter being adapted to snugly fit within the stopper neck 15 and when thus fitted therein entirely closes communication between the spout 11 and the body 5 of the funnel.

'Fixed to and rising centrally from the stem 19 at its upper end is a post or pull shank 22 terminating in an eye 23 with which is connected one end of a chain 24, the opposite end being connected to an eye 25 fixed to and projecting outwardly from the clamping ring 7 carried by the body of the 'funnel, the shank 22 and chain 24 permitting the stopper, 20 to be raised from engagement with the neck 15 to permit the free flow of liquid contained within the body of the funnel into the spout 11 when attached thereto. The chain at its upper end is passed through a suitable opening in the ring, so that it maybe carried between the body 5 and said ring for the fastening thereof to the eye, 7

Suitably held within the upper end of the uide tube 16' is a split tube 26, .the latter rictionally held within the said tube 16 and is formed with a depending lug 27 to which is connected a locking dog or catch 28 by means of a pivot 29, the dog being adapted to work through a suitable opening in the side of the tube 16 so as to move into the path of movement of the stem 19 of the stopper, whereby the Sfildi dog or catch 18 Wlll automatically engage with the free end of the said stem 19 to sustain the stopper 20 raised and out of the stopper neck 15 for the free flow of liquid from the funnel body into the spout.

Disposed within the free or outer end portion of the spout 11 is a cylindrical float 30 havin longitudinally therein a central tube 29, t rough which is passed a detachable supporting rod 31, the upper end of which is formed with an eye terminal .32 engaged with a suspension wire 33, the latter belng connected with the ca 7 11 or dog 28, so that upon movement-pf the oat 30, in one direction within the spout 11, the said .dog 28 will be moved inwardly of the guide tube 16 permitting the stopper to enter the stopper neck 15, thus closing or shutting off communication between the said spout and body of the funnel. carries a nut, which permits the removal of the rod 31 from the tube 29, when desired,

without removing the float. The outer or free end of the s out 11 is inturned to provide a bearing mally contacts the float 30 which, when engaged with the said flange, maintains the dog in position for locking the stopper 20 in raised position, that is to say, out of engagement from the neck 15 depending from the 8 dome or hood 12 within the body 5 of the funnel.

The spout 11 spaced from the inturned flanged outer or free end is provided with air ports or vents 35 to permit the escape of 8 air wlt-hin the spout for the proper Working of the float when the, latter is being raised by the liquid contained within the body of a bottle.

'When it is desired to fill a bottle or other 9 receptacle, the funnel is positioned in the ordinary manner in the neck or mouth thereof, whereupon liquid is poured into the body 5 of the funnel and thereafter the stopper 20 is lifted by the chain 24 or shank 22 to 9 disengage it from the stopper neck 15, the stopper being locked in raised position by the dog 28 engaging with the free end of the stem 19 supporting said stopper, and

thus permit the liquid to flow from the body 5 into the spent 11 and thence into a bottle. When the bottle becomes filled with liquid, the latter will operate the float 30 in the spout 11 causing it to be raised which will 0 erate the catch 28 disengaging the 1 same rom the stem 19, whereby the stop per will, by gravity, become lowered and engage in the neck 15, thus shutting off communication-between the body 5 and the spout 11, thereby preventing further flow of 1 liquid within the body of said bottle which -will obviate an overflow therefrom of liquid.

ring, a dome fixed within the said body and 3 having communication with the spout, a stationary hollow guide- "tube arranged. within said spout and risin within said dome, a slidable stem mounte on said tube,a stopper fixed to said stem and normally closing communication between the dome and said spout,

a catch device ivoted within said tube and workin theret rough in the path of movement 0 the stem for lockin the stopper in position'for establishing co municatlon be--.

The lower end of said rod 31 7 ange 34, withwhich nor- 7 tween the dome and the spout, and a float movably mounted within the spout and having connection with the catch device for moving the same into releasing position, whereby the stopper will operate for shutting off communication between he dome and said spout. V

2. A funnel comprising a bowl-like body having a nipple at its contracted end, a spout detachably connected with said nipple, a detachable clamping ring engaged with the body, a strainer cloth held taut entirely across the mouth of the said body by said ring, a dome fixed within the said body and having communication with the spout, a stasaid s out.and rising within said dome, a slidabie stem mounted on said tube, a stopper fixed to saidstem and normally closin communication between the dome and sai spout, a catch device pivoted within said tube and working therethrough in the path of movement of the said stem for locking the stopper in position for establishing communication between the dome and the spout, a float movably mounted within the spout and having connection with the catch device for moving the same into releasing position, whereb the stopper will operate for shuttin 0 communication between the dome an said spout, and means for lifting the stem on the tube whereby it will be auto;

matically engaged by the catch device.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. tionary hollow guide tube arranged within JESSE M. EVANS- \Vitnesses W. E. MILLS, H. O. BRYANT. 

